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6.03.2008

parliament says: "let them stay!"

[Guest post from Allan/redsock]

The motion has passed!

The House of Commons has voted in favour of the resolution that demands the Harper government immediately cease all deportation proceedings against any Iraq War resisters currently in Canada and allow all resisters and their families to remain in Canada and apply for permanent residence.

Vote total announced as Yea: 137 & Nay: 110!!

It was a very simple procedure: The motion was read and then voted on. Yeas stood and were counted, then the Nays. The totals were announced, the speaker declared the motion passed, and they moved on to the next item.

OTTAWA, June 3 /CNW/ - The Opposition parties in the House of Commons joined together today to adopt a recommendation which, if implemented, would make it possible for U.S. Iraq War resisters to obtain Permanent Resident status in Canada.

The recommendation was adopted by a majority of Members of Parliament from the Liberal, Bloc Québécois, and New Democratic Parties. The Conservatives voted against the motion.

The motion, which originated in the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in December 2007, calls on the government to "immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members ... to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and ... the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions ... against such individuals."

Corey Glass, 25, a war resister who came to Canada in 2006 and was recently told to leave Canada by June 12 or face removal to the United States, welcomed the vote. "I'm thankful that the MPs voted to let me and the other war resisters stay in Canada. I'm also thankful to all the Canadians who urged their MPs to support us."

"This is a great victory for the courageous men and women who have come to Canada because they refuse to take part in the illegal, immoral Iraq War, and for the many organizations and individuals who have supported this campaign over the past four years," said Lee Zaslofsky, Coordinator of the War Resisters Support Campaign and a Vietnam War deserter who came to Canada in 1970.

The War Resisters Support Campaign is calling on the Conservative government to respect the democratic decision of the Canadian Parliament and immediately implement the motion and cease deportation proceedings against Corey Glass and other war resisters.

Just spoke with Laura. The gallery was packed for Question Period and it turned out that only 10 resisters were allowed in to watch the vote "live".

Everyone else went to NDP leader Jack Layton's office and watched on TV. I think that's where they are now, too. A news crew rode with them on the bus to Ottawa and is still there filming and interviewing.

One person told L before the vote that she was beyond anxious and really couldn't speak. Afterwards, she could not stop crying. I can't imagine how huge a relief this must be for these people.

Everyone wants champagne, but you can't drink in the House of Commons buildings, so it's chips and water, etc.

The bus doesn't leave until 6:30 so I don't think they'll get at the booze until then.

This is so excellent! I went out to lunch with a coworker/friend (I'm doing that a lot lately, being my last weeks here) and told her that one of the things that I'm looking forward to in living in Canada is that I feel that people can still make a difference there, that the government still cares what the people think, that the elections are not rigged ... I've just grown so hopeless here in the U.S.

Congratulations!!! Great news!!! Parliament has passed the motion in favor of the war resisters staying in Canada!!! Keep up the good work, I say to all who have been active on the issue and who have finally made an impact. The Supreme Court Justices may have been too scared of Bush and to intimidated to hear the case, but Parliament majority was obviously not. And yep, politically this success is very meaningful and helpful and relevant. Harper and his government would very well be advised to act on it and to respect the will of the majority of the voters and the Parliament. Otherwise I want to recall the saying "Election Day is Pay Day"....haha, just kidding, I am sure you all will get what I mean. And yep, I also hope for a Democratic victory in November 2008 and for US politics to get improved thereby again a great deal. Great that so many people stood up to Bush and his disastrous Iraq war which should never have been begun with in the first place. His policy was a flop and very disadvantageous in general, also on a number of different ways for America herself. Remember what a great job the US did with the liberation of Germany and Kosova but the women of Afghanistan are still not free despite the overthrow of the Taliban, remember the cuts in programs for women and poor people and minorities, remember the tax cuts for the rich, remember the wholly unsufficient hurricane Katrina relief, remember on end...

It really is amazing. The idea of these people (and their families) being deported to face a military trial because they refused to take part in the US's murderous occupation and destruction of Iraq and chose instead to follow their consciences (and international law) was scary.

We have our annual party this Saturday (wmtc3) -- which is also a fundraiser for the resisters (great timing!!) -- so we're busy this week, but I'm assuming L will share some thoughts tomorrow morning.

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You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing, there will be no result.Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.Margaret Mead

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.Karl Marx

There is a tendency to think that what we see in the present moment will continue. We forget how often we have been astonished by the sudden crumbling of institutions, by extraordinary changes in people's thoughts, by unexpected eruptions of rebellion against tyrannies, by the quick collapse of systems of power that seemed invincible.Howard Zinn